Department Chair

Andrew D. Nicholls, Ph.D., Chair and Professor of History

Date of Award

5-2017

Access Control

Open Access

Degree Name

Museum Studies, M.A.

Department

History and Social Studies Education Department

Advisor

Cynthia Conides, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History

Department Home page

http://history.buffalostate.edu/

First Reader

Cynthia Conides, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History

Second Reader

Nancy Weekly, M.A., Instructor of Museum Studies

Third Reader

Andrew D. Nicholls, Ph.D., Professor of History

Abstract

Abstract:

This paper is dedicated to finding a way to better incorporate cinema into museums. The answer as to how came through a number of ways that some museums currently operate that could be adopted by others, a few new ideas, as well as an expansion in the number of museum theatres. A key theme of this is to expand the limited selection of films typically found in museums and galleries to include more popular fare, which would better attract visitors with frequency. I also endorse the idea of constructing new theatres for museums that do not already possess one, so that they can enjoy the profound benefits cinema rings. Research supporting these notions was pulled from official studies from the government and independent organizations, the press, museum websites, as well as some commercial sources. The final conclusion made here is that there are some risk factors in adopting the optimal path of building new theatres, stemming from complications of funding and the shrinking small theatre industry, but that wherever applicable, this would serve as a source of institutional and financial strength to museums large or small. Here I recommend the construction of modest theatres only in economic environments that pass a feasibility study, which should be used to play a variety of cinema regularly for the public.

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